Blagojevich wants Ryan off Madigan case

Attorney general acknowledges conflict may exist

July 22, 2002|By Rick Pearson, Tribune political reporter.

Democratic candidate for governor Rod Blagojevich called Sunday for Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan to recuse himself and his office from reviewing allegations that legislative workers for Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan did campaign work on state time in the 2000 election.

Ryan, Blagojevich's Republican challenger, acknowledged the potential conflicts of a GOP candidate examining allegations against one of the state's top Democrats. But he said a decision on whether to proceed will be based on "what we think is the appropriate thing to do."

Ryan faulted Blagojevich for not seeking Madigan's ouster as state Democratic Party chairman in the way Ryan helped force House Republican leader Lee Daniels of Elmhurst from the state Republican chairmanship after similar but more extensive allegations surfaced.

Blagojevich, a Northwest Side congressman, said Ryan should appoint a special independent assistant attorney general, or refer to federal prosecutors any allegations of political work done on state time by Madigan's staff. Blagojevich said Ryan has a "glaring conflict of interest" politically in undertaking such a review.

Madigan aides have said dozens of state-paid staff trips made to politically key districts in the 2000 election involved helping incumbent legislators with constituent services. Staff was taken off the state payroll closer to the election to handle campaign work, they said.

Before the allegations about Madigan's staff surfaced, Ryan initially reviewed and then turned over to federal prosecutors documents alleging Daniels' staff members did political work on state time in the 2000 election.

Blagojevich maintained the attorney general "has no credibility to investigate other political figures" after he "sat on his hands" while the licenses-for-bribes scandal developed in the secretary of state's office when Gov. George Ryan ran it.

If there is "credible evidence to suggest that there's criminal wrongdoing," Madigan's resignation as party chairman would be "appropriate," Blagojevich said. But he quickly added, "There is no credible evidence at this point."

Jim Ryan said Blagojevich has failed to grasp his role as a party leader.

"It sounds like he's trying to artfully sidestep the question," Ryan said. "Maybe he ought to start answering some questions for his party like I have for my party."

The Republican also questioned Blagojevich's vote against the 1995 legislation that gave Mayor Richard Daley control of the Chicago Public Schools and his support for union-backed measures that would restore some collective bargaining rights eliminated in the reform law.

"He is a captive of the unions," Ryan said. "My first responsibility as governor is to the children of our state. It's not to teachers' unions, it's not to principals."

Blagojevich faulted Ryan and those who say teachers are to blame for troubled schools, saying they are busy "fingerpointing and scapegoating teachers."

Blagojevich also called for an expansion of the state's family and medical leave law to allow domestic violence victims to seek time off for legal or medical assistance without fear of losing their jobs. He also proposed allowing them to seek civil damages against their attackers.

Ryan said he would study the proposals, calling himself a longtime leader in helping domestic violence victims.